"Where can I get a replacement seat switch for my 81/82?" is a fairly commonly asked question here. It looks like, generally speaking, unless you luck out and find a workable unit in a junkyard, the answer is "you can't."

Ecklers and a number of other places have this part listed, out of stock, many showing "discontinued" correct seat switch:


The description for that switch is that it is an exact replacement for 81-82, and a functional replacement for 84-87.

The exact replacement for 84-89 looks very similar to that switch, but broken down into 3 pieces small switch (2 required) and large center seat switch/toggle:


So we've got two 6-pin switches and a 9-pin switch that, when put together, have the same 21-pin configuration as the single piece part for an 81-82 that is listed as a functional replacement for the three piece configuration. Cosmetically, obviously, the small switches are different colors and there's no cover **** for the toggle, but I can live with that (and would guess that I might be able to pull the toggle off the existing switch).

Has anyone ever tried this? Success or failure? I couldn't find part dimensions anywhere online (and the pictures above are not to scale with each other), but logically, if the 81/82 part is a functional replacement for 84-87, I'd think the reverse could work if the parts were linked together.

I welcome the thoughts and responses of those of you with far more experience in this than I have.

 

I usually take them apart and clean the contacts.

 

Take them apart and clean up.

 

What you are looking for is a 21 pin power seat switch for like a late 78 up to mid 80's Ford, Jeep, etc. The Corvette uses a 21 pin switch. The search will pull up a switch with a chrome bezel and may or may not have a wiring harness attached. You can take the bezel off by pushing in the keepers that you see in the side of the bezel. It is a little bit of a battle but can be done. the wiring harness has to be removed too if the switch came with one. It is wired differently where it goes to the seat motor and uses a different connector if I remember right. To remove the wiring harness is a little battle too as there are two openings on the connector where it goes on the power seat switch pins that has two little keepers to lock it on the pins. You have to remove these two keepers before you can remove the switch from the harness. You need to be careful when you start working the connector off the seat switch as you have to gently pry up on the connector from the switch. Search using this below on Ebay and it will bring up 21 pin switches.

1968-91 Mercury Ford Lincoln Jeep OEM Power Seat Control Switch 206100 - 21 PIN

 

Is there a trick to getting it open to get in there and clean? I found a few other references to cleaning the switch, but most of them talk about having a great deal of difficulty getting the switch opened up to clean it.

The current switch works partially, and the last thing I want to do is kill all the functionality trying to force it open.